“I must wait till we are alone; then I can explain it,” I thought. Meanwhile I was in a far from enviable position—in disgrace with the faculty, and at the same time suspected of falseness by my best friend.
The inquiries were again directed toward Ray.
“Then you did not wear a mask?” said Dr. Drayton.
“No, sir.”
“Was the match box in your possession when the cannons were discharged?”
“No, sir,” answered Ray. “I lent it to some one a short time before.”
Dr. Drayton leaned forward and continued with greater earnestness.
“Mr. Wendell, this match box was found this morning just beside one of the cannons. It was open, and the matches were scattered about, as if it had been dropped in haste immediately after the guns were discharged. We are confident that the man who lighted the cannons, held this match box in his hand.”
Ray was silent.